Snow removal apparatus



Feb. 28, 1967 J. D. HOLLEY 3,305,949

SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 34 T13 H13 Q INVENTOR.

John D. Holley Affarngys Feb. 28, 1967' Filed April 22, 1964 J-. D. HOLLEY SNOWREMOVAL APPARATUS 2 sheets -Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

John D. Hal/2y BY 7, Y I MYW Alffar/vg/s United States Patent Ofiiice 3,305,949 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,305,949 SNGW REMOVAL APPARATUS John D. Holley, Montgomery, Ala., assignor to Kershaw Manufacturing Company, Inc., a corporation of Alabama Filed Apr. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 361,841 6 Claims. (Cl. 37-24) This invention relates to snow removal apparatus and more particularly to apparatus which shall be particularly adapted for removing snow from railroad switches and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide snow removal apparatus of the character designated which shall include a discharge unit having an impeller therein and a discharge chute at one side thereof, together with the improved means preventing the snow from plugging the discharge chute.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for removing snow from railroad switches and the like which shall be adapted to move continuously along the rails of a railroad track and concomitantly therewith remove the snow from the rails and switches associated therewith.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide snow removal apparatus of the character designated which shall include baffle-like members adjacent the receiving side or sides of an impeller in position to prevent entrance of snow adjacent the discharge side of the impeller whereby the snow travels an angular distance in the impeller prior to being discharged, thereby preventing the snow from entering the discharge section of the impeller prior to receiving the required acceleration in an angular direction.

A still further object of my invention is to provide snow removal apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which removes snow from railroad switches and the like in an eflicient manner.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difliculties have been encountered with snow discharge apparatus due to the fact that the snow enters the discharge unit adjacent the discharge chute whereby insufficient acceleration as been imparted to the snow in an angular direction to prevent plugging of the discharge chute. That is, while a substantial amount of the snow is conveyed into the impeller at a position to receive the required angular acceleration prior to being discharged, some of the snow passes directly into the discharge section of the impeller whereby it does not receive the required angular acceleration, thereby causing the discharge chute to be plugged. Attempts to overcome this difficulty have included rotating the impeller at excessive speeds and also moving the apparatus at a slower speed along the railroad tracks.

To overcome the above difficulties, I provide a bafllelike member or members adjacent the incoming side or sides of the impeller in position to prevent the entrance of snow adjacent the discharge section of the impeller. Accordingly, the snow engaged by the impeller travels the required angular distance to impart the required.

acceleration to the snow prior to entering the discharge chute.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View showing my improved apparatus mounted on the rails of a railroad track;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2, drawn to a smaller scale; and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the disc member carrying the baffle member removed from the remainder of the apapratus.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show my improved apparatus as being supported adjacent the forward end of a translatable frame, a fragment of which is indicated generally at 10. The translatable frame 10 is supported by flanged wheels 11 which are adapted to ride upon the rails of a railroad track indicated at 12.

Mounted adjacent the forward end of the translatable frame 10 in laterally spaced relation to each other are upstanding support members 13. Suitable brace members 14 connect the upper ends of the support members 13 to the translatable frame, as shown in FIG. 2. Connected to the upper ends of thesupport members 13 by pins 16 are depending fluid pressure operated cylinders 17 having piston rods 18. The lower ends of the piston rods 18 extend between pairs of vertically extending plate-like members 19. Suitable pins 21 connect the lower ends of the piston rods 18 to the plate-like members 19, as shown in FIG. 2. A roller 22 is mounted between each pair of plate-like members 19 adjacent the upper ends thereof in position to engage the rear sides of the vertical support members 13. In like manner, rollers 23 are mounted between each pair of plate-like members 19 adjacent the lower portions thereof in position to engage the forward sides of the vertical support members 13. Accordingly, the rollers 22 and 23 engage opposite sides of the vertical support members 13 whereby vertical movement of the plate-like members 19 is guided as the fluid pressure operated cylinder 17 is actuated to raise or lower the plate-like members 19.

As shown in FIG. 2 the plate-like members 19 are secured rigidly to a downwardly opening housing 24 having end walls 26. Mounted for rotation between the end walls 26 is a horizontal shaft 27 which carries a rotary sweeper indicated generally at 28. The rotary sweeper comprises a plurality of radially extending sweeper elements 29 which are adapted to move closely adjacent the rails 12 and the supporting crossties therefor indicated generally at 30. The shaft 27 for the rotary sweeper 28 is operatively connected to a transverse shaft 31 by a pulley and belt arrangement indicated generally at 32. The transverse shaft 31 is operatively connected to a power shaft 33 by a suitable gear box indicated generally at 34. The shaft 33 is driven by suitable means, such as by direct power take-off from a power unit mounted on the translatable frame 10, not shown. The rotary sweeper 28 is driven in a direction for the snow to be discharged outwardly and forwardly therefrom as the apparatus moves along the rails.

Mounted adjacent the forward side of the housing 24 is a housing 36 having end walls 37. Both housing 24 and housing 36 extend transversely of the rails 12, as shown. The lower rearmost portion of the housing 36 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening 38 therein whereby snow discharged upwardly and forwardly from the rotary sweeper 28 is discharged directly into the transverse housing 36. Mounted for rotation between the end plates 37 of the housing 36 is a shaft 39 which is driven by a suitable belt and pulley arrangement 41 which is operatively connected to the shaft 31.

Mounted on the shaft 39 adjacent the longitudinal center of the housing 36 is an impeller 42 having individual blades 43, which are adapted to rotate in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the rotary sweeper 28 whereby the snow is directed upwardly and forwardly. Mounted at opposite sides of the impeller 42 are vertically extending disc-like members 44 having inwardly projecting baffle-like elements 46 adjacent the upgoing side of the impeller and in advance of the discharge side of the impeller 42 relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller, as shown in FIG. 2. The disc-like members 44 are connected to each other by an annular member 47 to thereby define a discharge housing for the impeller.

A discharge opening 48 is provided in the annular member 47 and a discharge chute 49 is secured to the annular member 47 in position to communicate with the opening 48 whereby the snow is discharged from the housing 36. As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge chute 49 comprises a lower section 51 which is pivotally connected by suitable means 52 to an upper section 53. Accordingly, the snow may be discharged at selected angular positions relative to the forward end of the apparatus. Mounted on the shaft 39 at opposite sides of the centrally disposed impeller 42 are a pair of auger-type conveyors 54 which are adapted to convey snow inwardly toward opposite sides of the impeller.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. The housings 24 and 36 are moved as a unit to selected vertical positions relative to the railroad track by actuating the fluid pressure operated cylinder 17. In FIG. 2, the apparatus is shown in its lowermost or operating position whereby the rotary sweeper 28 is in position to engage snow and direct the same upwardly and forwardly into the longitudinally extending opening 38 of the housing 36. The auger-type conveyors 54 thus convey the snow inwardly toward opposite sides of the impeller 42 whereupon the snow is engaged by the impeller elements 43 and thrown forward in an arcuate direction whereupon it is discharged through the discharge chute 49. Snow is prevented from entering the discharge unit adjacent the discharge side of the impeller 42 by the arcuate baffle members 46 at opposite sides of the impeller. That is, the arcuate baffie members are mounted at the sides of the impeller and extend in advance of the discharge chute 49, relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller, to thereby restrain the entrance of snow from the auger-type conveyor units 54 into the discharge unit adjacent the discharge chute 49. Accordingly, the snow entering the impeller 42 must travel an angular distance from the forward edgesof the bafile members 46 to the opening 48 before being discharged through the chute 49. The bafiles' 46 thus assure that any snow entering the impeller 42 will travel an angular distance of at least 90 whereby sufficient acceleration is imparted to the snow prior to being discharged to prevent plugging of the chute 49. Accordingly, the snow does not pass directly from the conveyor units 54 into the discharge chute or into the impeller adjacent the discharge chute, thereby preventing a buildup of snow adjacent and within the discharge chute 49.

To move the apparatus from the operating position to an inoperative position, the fluid pressure operated cylinder 17 is actuated whereby the housings 24 and 36 are elevated relative to the vertical support members 13.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved apparatus for removing snow. By providing apparatus which may be moved to selected vertical positions relative to a supporting surface, my apparatus is particularly adapted for removing snow from areas in and around railroad tracks, switches and the like. By providing a discharge unit embodying an impeller and a discharge chute, together with bafile means preventing the entrance of snow into the discharge unit adjacent and in advance of the discharge chute, the snow entering the impeller must travel a substantial angular distance prior to being discharged into the discharge chute, thereby assuring that the snow always has sufficient acceleration prior to entering the discharge chute. Furthermore, by forming the bafiie-like members as an integral part of disc-like members at the sides of the impeller, the disc-like members form sides for the discharge housing, thereby facili tating the construction of the discharge housing and at the same time eliminating any accumulation of snow adjacent the discharge side of the impeller.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set fort in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Snow removal apparatus comprisingt (a) an elongated housing supported for movement above the surface from which snow is to be removed,

(b) there being a longitudinally extending opening in said elongated housing extending transversely of the direction of movement of said elongated housing disposed to receive snow,

(c) sweeper means mounted in position to transfer snow from said surface from which snow is to be re= moved through said longitudinally extending opening into said elongated housing, 4 I (d) a snow discharge housing connected to said elem gated housing and having a discharge chute at oiie side thereof, g g (e) a rotary impeller mounted for rotation within said discharge housing and extending transversely of said elongated housing, 7 (f) there being a laterally disposed inlet opening in said discharge housing in communication with said elemgated housing, I 4 I p p conveyor means within said elongated housing to transfer snow longitudinally thereof toward said inlet opening in the discharge housing, and V (h) a baffle member extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of said elongated housing and cooperating with a central portion of said impeller to close off an arcuate portion of said inlet opening at the lower upgoing side of said impeller an angular dis-' tance in advance of said discharge chute relative td the direction of rotation of said impeller preventing the entrance of snow from said conveyor means intd said discharge housing at said lower upgoing side of the impeller so that snow engaged by the impeller travels an angular distance prior to entering said discharge chute.

2. Snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the bafile member is arcuate in shape.

3. Snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the snow discharge housing communicates with said elongated housing intermediate the ends of said elongated housing and a baffle member is mounted at each side of said impeller in advance of said discharge chute relative to the direction of rotation of said impeller. v

4. Snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the snow discharge housing is mounted adjacent the longitudinal center of said elongated housing.

5. Snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the conveyor means comprises an auger-type conveyor mounted for rotation in said elongated housing at each side of said snow discharge housing.

6. Snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the bafiie member is formed integrally with an annular side wall for said snow discharge housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 64,140 11/ 1941 Norway. 181,203 10/1962 Sweden.

5 ABRAHAM G. sToNE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER,-Assistant Examiner. 

1. SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED HOUSING SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT ABOVE THE SURFACE FROM WHICH SNOW IS TO BE REMOVED, (B) THERE BEING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING OPENING IN SAID ELONGATED HOUSING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ELONGATED HOUSING DISPOSED TO RECEIVE SNOW, (C) SWEEPER MEANS MOUNTED IN POSITION TO TRANSFER SNOW FROM SAID SURFACE FROM WHICH SNOW IS TO BE REMOVED THROUGH SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING OPENING INTO SAID ELONGATED HOUSING, (D) A SNOW DISCHARGE HOUSING CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED HOUSING AND HAVING A DISCHARGE CHUTE AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, (E) A ROTARY IMPELLER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAID DISCHARGE HOUSING AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ELONGATED HOUSING, (F) THERE BEING A LATERALLY DISPOSED INLET OPENING IN SAID DISCHARGE HOUSING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID ELONGATED HOUSING, (G) CONVEYOR MEANS WITHIN SAID ELONGATED HOUSING TO TRANSFER SNOW LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF TOWARD SAID INLET OPENING IN THE DISCHARGE HOUSING, AND (H) A BAFFLE MEMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ELONGATED HOUSING AND COOPERATING WITH A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID IMPELLER 